Small scapose herbs from corm-like rhizomes, scatteringly pilose throughout, especially in the inflorescence; leaves narrow, grass-like, basal; inflorescence bear- ing 1 or several small yellow flowers, cymose; perianth segments 6, barely united at the base, without a tube, regular, the outer usually somewhat sepal-like; stamens 6, the filaments united to the base of the perianth; pistil 3-celled, in- ferior, more or less truncate at the tip, without a beak; fruit a capsule, dehiscing by longitudinal slits.